Talking Points....
April 14, 2026
This week's discussion will focus on Pastor Doug's distinguishing sermon "I Am What God Says I Am."
I. I am what God says I am.
A. We are mighty in Him.
1. 2 Samuel 23:8, 11-12 NLT - These are the names of David’s mightiest warriors. The first was Jashobeam the Hacmonite, who was leader of the Three—the three mightiest warriors among David’s men. He once used his spear to kill 800 enemy warriors in a single battle.
Next in rank was Shammah son of Agee from Harar. One time the Philistines gathered at Lehi and attacked the Israelites in a field full of lentils. The Israelite army fled, but Shammah held his ground in the middle of the field and beat back the Philistines. So the Lord brought about a great victory.
2. We need to remember who and whose we are, not who others say we are.
3. How has remembering who and whose you are helped you when others say differently?
B. Jesus' identity comes from our Heavenly Father.
1. I AM the Bread of Life.
a. John 6:35 - Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty."
b. For those who need provision.
2. I AM the Light of the World.
a. John 8:12 - Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”
b. For those who need clarification.
3. I AM the Door.
a. John 10:7 - so he explained it to them: “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep."
b. For those who need accession.
4. I AM the Good Shepherd.
a. John 10:11 - “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep."
b. For those who need protection.
5. I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
a. John 14:6 - Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me."
b. For those who need direction.
6. I AM the True Vine.
a. John 15:1 - “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener."
b. For those who need connection.
7. Which of Jesus' "I Am" stands out most to you the at this moment of your life and why?
C. Declare what the Word of God says about you.
1. When we do this, knowing who we are in Heaven, brings confidence and clarity in our lives.
2. How has declaring what the Word of God says about you helped you?
D. Having a distorted view of who we are is troublesome.
1. A distorted view brings confusion and robs us of our Kingdom authority and purpose.
2. Share a time when you had a distorted view of your identity, and the problems that came from that.
E. Many of us cling to our old identity.
1. I am offended.
2. I am angry.
3. I am resentful.
4. I am fearful.
5. I am worrisome.
6. I am addicted.
7. I am uncommitted.
8. I am unqualified.
9. I am a failure.
10. I am weak.
11. When you find yourself living in your old identity, what have you been able to do to change that?
F. The devil's number one tactic against believers hasn't changed.
1. He tries to point you away from your identity of who you are in God.
2. If he can talk you out of that, he can talk you into anything.
3. He will always fight you over what Heaven calls you.
4. How does knowing the devil's number one tactic against you, helped you fight him and what he says about you?
G. You are of God.
1. 1 John 4:4 - But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.
2. John reminds us who and whose we are.
3. How does knowing that you are of God make you feel and why?
H. You are not your struggle.
1. Don't let the devil trap you in a moment.
2. Don't let your destiny be overwritten by your history.
3. When we find ourselves trapped in our struggles, what can we do to change that?
I. Your King has spoken a new identity over you.
1. You are defined by what was done for you on the Cross.
2. You are who God says you are.
3. What things do you do that help you to focus on your new identity during challenging times?
J. Don't have the wrong I am over your life.
1. The wrong I am will shame you, pull you down, hold you back, and hinder you from experiencing God's best for your life.
2. How has having the wrong I am caused problems for you?
K. Choose to have the right I am over your life.
1. The right I am will set you free, lift you up, and cause you to live at the highest level of your God given potential.
2. Share how having the right I am has helped you.
L. I am declarations.
1. I am born again by the Word of God.
2. I am kept by the Power of God.
3. I am sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise unto the day of redemption.
4. I am seated at Heavenly places.
5. All things have been placed under my feet.
6. I've been given authority over all the power of the enemy.
7. I am more than a conqueror through Him.
8. I am triumphant through Him.
9. I am adopted, accepted, appointed, anointed, and approved by Him.
10. I am the object of His affection.
11. I am the lens of His love.
12. I am the grounds for His grace.
13. I am the focus of His faithfulness.
14. I am the purpose of His peace.
15. I am the reason for His resurrection.
16. I am the point of His promises.
17. I am His own child.
18. I am His household of faith.
19. I am grafted into His family.
20 I have access to His throne room.
21. I have made it into His inner circle.
22. Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world.
23. THAT IS WHO I AM.
24. What I am declaration do you need to focus on most today and why?
M. Reflection time.
1. What has stood out to you the most with this message "I am What God Says I am"
This week's discussion will focus on Pastor Doug's distinguishing sermon "I Am What God Says I Am."
I. I am what God says I am.
A. We are mighty in Him.
1. 2 Samuel 23:8, 11-12 NLT - These are the names of David’s mightiest warriors. The first was Jashobeam the Hacmonite, who was leader of the Three—the three mightiest warriors among David’s men. He once used his spear to kill 800 enemy warriors in a single battle.
Next in rank was Shammah son of Agee from Harar. One time the Philistines gathered at Lehi and attacked the Israelites in a field full of lentils. The Israelite army fled, but Shammah held his ground in the middle of the field and beat back the Philistines. So the Lord brought about a great victory.
2. We need to remember who and whose we are, not who others say we are.
3. How has remembering who and whose you are helped you when others say differently?
B. Jesus' identity comes from our Heavenly Father.
1. I AM the Bread of Life.
a. John 6:35 - Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty."
b. For those who need provision.
2. I AM the Light of the World.
a. John 8:12 - Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”
b. For those who need clarification.
3. I AM the Door.
a. John 10:7 - so he explained it to them: “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep."
b. For those who need accession.
4. I AM the Good Shepherd.
a. John 10:11 - “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep."
b. For those who need protection.
5. I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
a. John 14:6 - Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me."
b. For those who need direction.
6. I AM the True Vine.
a. John 15:1 - “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener."
b. For those who need connection.
7. Which of Jesus' "I Am" stands out most to you the at this moment of your life and why?
C. Declare what the Word of God says about you.
1. When we do this, knowing who we are in Heaven, brings confidence and clarity in our lives.
2. How has declaring what the Word of God says about you helped you?
D. Having a distorted view of who we are is troublesome.
1. A distorted view brings confusion and robs us of our Kingdom authority and purpose.
2. Share a time when you had a distorted view of your identity, and the problems that came from that.
E. Many of us cling to our old identity.
1. I am offended.
2. I am angry.
3. I am resentful.
4. I am fearful.
5. I am worrisome.
6. I am addicted.
7. I am uncommitted.
8. I am unqualified.
9. I am a failure.
10. I am weak.
11. When you find yourself living in your old identity, what have you been able to do to change that?
F. The devil's number one tactic against believers hasn't changed.
1. He tries to point you away from your identity of who you are in God.
2. If he can talk you out of that, he can talk you into anything.
3. He will always fight you over what Heaven calls you.
4. How does knowing the devil's number one tactic against you, helped you fight him and what he says about you?
G. You are of God.
1. 1 John 4:4 - But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.
2. John reminds us who and whose we are.
3. How does knowing that you are of God make you feel and why?
H. You are not your struggle.
1. Don't let the devil trap you in a moment.
2. Don't let your destiny be overwritten by your history.
3. When we find ourselves trapped in our struggles, what can we do to change that?
I. Your King has spoken a new identity over you.
1. You are defined by what was done for you on the Cross.
2. You are who God says you are.
3. What things do you do that help you to focus on your new identity during challenging times?
J. Don't have the wrong I am over your life.
1. The wrong I am will shame you, pull you down, hold you back, and hinder you from experiencing God's best for your life.
2. How has having the wrong I am caused problems for you?
K. Choose to have the right I am over your life.
1. The right I am will set you free, lift you up, and cause you to live at the highest level of your God given potential.
2. Share how having the right I am has helped you.
L. I am declarations.
1. I am born again by the Word of God.
2. I am kept by the Power of God.
3. I am sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise unto the day of redemption.
4. I am seated at Heavenly places.
5. All things have been placed under my feet.
6. I've been given authority over all the power of the enemy.
7. I am more than a conqueror through Him.
8. I am triumphant through Him.
9. I am adopted, accepted, appointed, anointed, and approved by Him.
10. I am the object of His affection.
11. I am the lens of His love.
12. I am the grounds for His grace.
13. I am the focus of His faithfulness.
14. I am the purpose of His peace.
15. I am the reason for His resurrection.
16. I am the point of His promises.
17. I am His own child.
18. I am His household of faith.
19. I am grafted into His family.
20 I have access to His throne room.
21. I have made it into His inner circle.
22. Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world.
23. THAT IS WHO I AM.
24. What I am declaration do you need to focus on most today and why?
M. Reflection time.
1. What has stood out to you the most with this message "I am What God Says I am"